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N. PETERS, PHOTDvL TMOGRAP DUNCAN MORRISON, OF- PORTLAND, MAINE.

Letters Patent No. 78,886, dated June 16, 1868.

IMPROVED STAGING.

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4To ALL WHoM ITMAY ooNonnM Be it known'that I, DUNCAN MORRISON, of Portlanchin the county of Cumberland, and Stato of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improved Staging; and l hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof," which will-enable'others to make and use my invention, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Plate 1, Figure 1, shows a side elevation of my invention.

Figure 2, an end View of the springs that sustain the platform,- illustrating the method of releasingthe same from the vertical-toothed rack. i

Figure 3, a view of one of the lifting-levers, with its springs and cord.

A is a top view of the two studs with the slots in which the pivots of the levers work.

B shows the vertical-toothed racks on the stadsor standards.`

Plate 2, Figure 1, is a top plan of the platform', showing Vthe manner of its'folding up.

Figure 2, a side view of a portion of the vertical-toothed racks, the springs supporting the platform, and the method of releasing -the same.

'The purpose of my invention is to produce a staging, for mechanics or lother operatives, which can `be elevated or lowered at the will of the person standing on the platform by the hand -of such operator while so` standing upon the platform.

Also, it is the purpose of my invention to make the platform so as to fold up, and thus .be easily portable. A shows the base of the staging.` B is Vthe 'movable and folding platform. The whole device can be folded into a comparatively small compass by the platform B', folding at a a', fig. 1, plate 2, and the supporting u standards swinging inwardly, as illustrated at Z1 b, will also fold inwardly in the same manner.

. The platform B iselevated or lowered as follows :V c are levers with daring-spring rests, el, and with pivots, e. The daring-spring rests catch in the teeth of `the racks f. The levers pass between the two centre standards 1 2 in the space g. The links or cords t connect the outer end of the levers with the platform B. Thus, it 1Will be seen, as the inner ends of the levers are pressed down, the platform will be raised, and the springs d d catching in the teeth on-the standards 1 2 will carry up the levers, and supply the fulcrum therefor as the platform B ascends. l i

The platform has springs, lz., on its under side, which, as it rises, also catch in the teeth of the racks on the standards 1 2, and thus assist in'supporting the platform on the centre standards.

The wings or folding parts of the platform are supported on the .corner standards by'sprin'gs, such as z'.

When itis desired to prevent the platform from vfolding or collapsing, the pivoted braces 7' are turned across thejointed or hinged part of said platform, iig. 1, plate 2. Thus it will be understood that the platform B can bc raised by the levers c, and held at any point by the spring-catches t z', catching in the4 teeth on the four corner and four centrestandards. l i

The method of lowering the platform is as follows: The springs t', supporting the corners of the platform, are first drawn out o-f the teeth in the racks running n p the corner standards. This is done by means of the cranks k, which turn small vertical drums on the lower side of the platform Br from these stretch-cords to the said springs y Turning the cranks lc inone direction, the springs e' are drawn out of thc toothed racks, and thus the four corners of the platform are unsupported.. i Reversing the motion, the springs will lfly back into the teeth again. The springs t, that catch the teeth of the vertical racks 4on the centre standards, plate 1, ligiZ, are released from the teeth by pressing downward 'on the upright bars m. This pressure drives the clamp n down over the springs L, thus bringing them together and ont of the teeth in the racks 1 2, plate 1, fig. 2.

The platform is then free to ascend. l

The crank o being then turned, and with it Athe drum p, thc shaft g is revolved. This shaft has two trucks r s. Wound several times around these trucks are the cords t u, attachedA at 3 4 5 6. The cord or belt 'v contasse 2 nects the'shaft and drum of theerank o with the shaft q. This shaft q turns in sliding pieces, w, attached to the part :v of the platform, projecting between the centre standards, (see D.) Thus, then, the person standing on the platform B can lower himself by turning, or allowing to turn, the crank O.

When the platform has reached the desired point in the downward movement, the springs t' are allowed to enter the toothed racks on the corner standards by turning cranks k in the proper direction, and springs 7L are allow-ed to enter the teeth on the centre racks by raising bars m m.

When the platform B is lowered byl turning the levers c, so that they may'rest vertically in the slots or spaces, g, between the centre standards, the springs el will be thrown out ofthe teeth in said standards, and so will not impede the motion of the platform, the pivotse moving up and down in the `grooves in the standards, (see A, plate 1.)

The cords extending from cranks Ic to springs i', and operating the same, are shown by dotted lines, k', (see fig. 1, plate 2.) x

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l: The combination, with the centre standards, of the levers c and spring-catches d, connected with the platform B,'in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth. l

2. In combination with platform B, the crank o, pulley p, cord 11, shaft g, and cords tu, as and for the purpose herein `set forth.

3. The combination of cranks k, cords kf, and springs z', connected with the cranks 7c, as described, and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination of the bars m with the clamps n and springs h 7L on the platform, to release the said springs, as and for the purposes herein set forth.

5. The combination and arrangement of the staging, so that it may be folded, as herein described, in the manner and for the purposes set forth.4

DUNCAN MORRISON.

Witnesses:

HENRY C. HOUSTON, WM. FRANK SEAVEY. 

